What You Need To Know About Skylights

If you love a room filled with natural light and stargazing at night from your living room couch or bedroom, you should consider installing skylights. Here’s everything you need to know about skylights, including the different types, their pros and cons, costs, maintenance, common problems, and more!

What is a Skylight?

A skylight is a light-permitting structure or window, usually made of transparent or translucent glass, that forms all or part of the roof space of a building for daylighting and ventilation purposes. The Skylight allows natural light to shine through home from the roof, creating a bright and cozy vibe in your home. 

What is the difference between a roof window and a skylight you may ask? 

The main difference between them both is that roof windows have an outward opening that extends from a roof, generally installed on sloped plane surfaces. Where as a skylight is a fixed window installed on flat surfaces, and typically doesn’t open.

 

Different types of skylights make all the difference.

Ventilating Skylights – Ventilating skylights, also called roof windows and they can open and close, hence the name. You can manually or electrically operate them, so you can install them on high ceilings with no drawbacks. If you like to open every window in your home then ventilated is the best option. Also, ventilated skylights are the best option for any room in your house that may collect moisture, like kitchens and laundry rooms.

Fixed Skylights – Fixed skylights do not open or close, so they do not provide any ventilation. These are easy to install and are best placed on high ceilings. This type of skylights allows the natural light to shine throughout your home. You also have the option of adding a dome over it as well.

Tubular Skylights – Tubular skylights work well in small spaces like hallways and closets. With these types, sunlight travels down a light well that’s highly reflective, which then goes through a diffuser before entering your home as soft, natural light. These type of skylights work well in sunny climates and don’t cause as much temperature fluctuation as other skylights.

Center-Pivot Skylights – Center-pivot skylights offer lots of fresh air because the entire window panel swings open and shut on a center pivot. This can be a good option for attics, rooms above garages, and other areas with slanted or low ceilings.

Did You Know About The Skylight Add-Ons

• Motorized blinds can be a great addition to any skylight so that you can easily cover the windows. This helps you control the room’s light and will help immensely with any potential heat loss or gain.

• If you get vented skylights, consider getting one with rain sensors. These are very useful because the sensor automatically closes the window when it notices moisture.

• Solar-powered skylights and shades allow you to enjoy simple, remote-controlled operations while increasing energy efficiency.

• You can opt for skylights that connect to your smartphone so you can control them with an app

Skylight Pros                                       

• Increases the natural light in the room                                      

• Makes rooms feel bigger

• No sacrificing privacy 

• Increases ventilation

• May lower your energy costs

• Nice views of the sky

Skylight Cons

• Heat loss and gain

• Damage can be costly to repair

• Poor installation could spell trouble—like leaks

• Labor-intensive to install

• Hard to clean

Real Deal Skylight Maintenance

Maintaining your skylight will help you enjoy it for a long time without issues. This should include a regular cleaning schedule of your windows and also the areas around the skylight. For example, you shouldn’t let leaves accumulate around your skylight because it can cause corrosion and damage. It blocks your beautiful view and makes it harder for the natural light to shine through.

Life Span

Your skylight should last 15 to 20 years. Yours could last a bit longer than this if you choose the most durable materials and are very diligent about cleaning and maintenance. If you notice issues with the skylight around the 15 year mark, it’s best to replace it altogether as small repairs may not fix the issue due to the age of the skylight. 

Ace Home Improvements LLC – Our quality shines. Ace is a family owned and operated business. We have been operating for over 17 years and our Installation Specialists have over 25 combined years of experience. We are proud of our reputation for high quality home improvement services in the Crofton area, supported by superior customer service. We work with insurance companies on your behalf and offer financing through our partner, GreenSky. Lastly, we offer FREE estimates… Call now. (301) 392-9293